Toolholding means for edge setting machines



Aug. 17, 1943.

E. J. RAY

TOOL nowme MEANS FOR EDGE SETTING MACHINES Original Filed April 16, 1941Patented Aug. 17, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TOOLHOLDING MEANS FOREDGE SETTING MACHINES Eugene J. Ray, Beverly, Mass., assignor to UnitedShoe Machinery Corporation, Flcmington, N. J a corporation of New JerseyOriginal application April 16, 1941, Serial No. 388.851. Divided andthis application April 10, 1942, Serial No. 438,479

Claims. (01. 12-78) This invention relates to finishing machines and isherein illustrated as embodied in the machine disclosed in anapplication for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 388,851, filedin my name on April 16, 1941, of which the present application is adivision. In machines of this type, the tool holder is oscillated athigh speed through a short stroke. It is important in such machines thatthe tool be rigidly secured to its carrier since even a small amount ofplay will cause wear and consequent increasing looseness, which willsoon amount to a substantial proportion of the entire stroke, thusrendering the tool ineffective.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved machineof th type under consideration in which the above-mentioned difficultyhas been overcome.

In order to insure that the tool shall be clamped securely to thecarrier so as to avoid any play whatsoever between the tool and thecarrier, the machine, in accordance with a feature of the invention, isprovided with a tool having a dovetail portion provided with a fiatabutment face and undercut faces terminating at the opposite ends ofsaid face, a tool carrier having a fiat face and an overhanging shoulderat one end of said face, and clamping means constructed and arranged toengage one of the undercut faces of the tool and to force th otherundercut face of said tool against the overhanging shoulder of thecarrier, said clamping means cooperating with said shoulder to force bywedging action the fiat abutment face of the tool against the flat faceof the carrier and to retain said fiat faces in secured abuttingrelation with each other.

The various features of the invention will be understood and appreciatedfrom the following detailed description read in connection with theaccompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front view of portions of theoperating head of the illustrative edge setting machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the portions of themachine shown in Fig. 1 in the process of setting the edge of a sole ofa shoe;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lower end of a tool carrier of themachine;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of several edge setting tools whichmay be secured interchangeably to the carrier;

Fig. 5 is a side view of the lower end of the carrier and an edgesetting tool which is secured to the carrier;

Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C are side views, respectively, of different edgesetting tools, any one of which may be secured to the carrier in placeof the tool shown in Fig. 5;

Fig. 6 is a front view of the carrier and the tool shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a front view of the tool shown in Fig. 5C.

The illustrative machine is described with reference to setting theedges 20 (Fig. 2) of soles 22 of shoes and comprises a holder 24 (Figs.1 and 2) which is mounted for reciprocation, oscillation or vibrationabout an axis 26 and has one or more heads 28 each provided with acylindrical recess 30. Siidably fitting in each of the recesses 30 is acylindrical spindle or shank 32 of a carrier 34 which is mounted forbodily reciprocation or oscillation in a plane and to which is secured,through means which will be described later, an edge setting tool 36having a work-engaging face 38. The machine is of the high speed, shortstroke type and, except for certain improvements in the carrier, thetool, and means for interchangeably securing tools having work-engagingfaces of different shapes and widths to the carrier, is identical withthe machine disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,283,204,filed May 17, 1940, and issued on May 19, 1942, in the name of WilliamHamann, which patent may be referred to for a detailed description of thmachine.

In setting the edges 20 of soles 22 of shoes, the operator forces thesole of the shoe upwardly, as shown in Fig. 2, with considerablepressure against the work-engaging face 38 of the tool 36 as he feedsthe shoe past the tool. The workengaging faces of the edge setting toolsvary in width in accordance with the width of the sole edge to beoperated upon and are also of varying cross-sectional shapes inaccordance with the desired shape to be imparted to the edge of thesole. Each of the illustrative tools 36 has a work-engaging facecomprising a lip face 40 (Fig. 4), bead forming grooves 42, a bed 44,and a stepped guard face 46. In order to facilitate feeding portions 48(Fig. 2) of the sole edge 20, which are curved heightwise of the shoe,past the tool 36, and to insure against the sole edge being presented atsuch an angle to the tool that the tool mars the appearance of the soleedge, as will be explained later, the carrier 34 is mounted for turningmovement about the axis 50 of its spindle 32. In setting portions 48 ofthe sole edge 20 which are curved heightwise of the shoe, the tool 36 isturned slightly about the axis 50 away from its neutral or centralposition in which lengthwise elements 52 (Fig. 4) of the work-engagingface 38 of the tool lie in planes parallel to the plane of oscillationof said axis 58 about the axis 26. Such turning movement of the tool 36is effected by the combined pressing and turning action of the sole edge28 against the work-engaging face 38 of the tool, the carrier spindle 32turning in the recess 38 of the holder 24 against the action of atorsion-resisting leaf spring 54 (Figs. 1 and 2) one end of which issecured by a screw 56 to the holder and a flat end face 58 of the otherend of which engages a flat bottom 60 (Fi 2) of a slot 62 formed in oneside of the spindle 32 of the carrier 34.

In order to facilitate the initial presentation of the sole edge 20 tothe work-engaging face 38 of the tool 36 and to insure that the soleedge is forced with an approximately constant pressure against the tool,said tool, as above stated, is mounted for sliding movement lengthwiseof said axis 58 (that is, toward and away from the axis 26 about whichthe holder 24 oscillates) against the action of a thrust spring 64(Figs. 1 and 2). Sliding movement of the carrier 34 toward the axis 26is effected by pressure of the work against the tool 36, the carrier 34,when no work is presented to the machine, being moved downwardly awayfrom the axis 26 by the thrust spring 64 which is carried by the holder24 and has secured to it a ball 66 fitting in a recess in the end of thecarrier. In order to limit movement of the carrier 34 toward the axis ofoscillation 26 of the holder, the carrier is provided with a flange 68which, if the work exerts an unusually heavy pressure against the tool,is forced into engagement with a face 18 of the holder 24.

During the edge setting operation, the sole edge 26 usually bearsagainst portions of the workengaging face 38 of the tool which arelocated between the outer portion of the lip face 48 and the outerportion of the guard face 46. The grooves 42, which are parallel to thelengthwise elements 52 (Fig. 1) of the work-engaging face 38, are shapedand arranged to form beads 12 (Fig. 2) at the margins of the sole edge.

In machines now in common use, the resultant force exerted by the soleedge against the workengaging face of the tool is applied at a pointwhich is offset a considerable distance laterally from the axis of thecarrier spindle, the amount of offset being greater, for example, in thecase of a forepart tool having a work-engaging face of small width thanin the case of a forepart tool having a work-engaging face of largewidth. It will thus be clear that when the sole edge is forced againstthe work-engagin face of each of such tools, the drag of the workagainst the tool causes the tool and the carrier to which it is securedto turn or vibrate rapidly about the carrier spindle axis against theaction of the leaf spring. Moreover, in machines now in common use, thecarriers and the various tools secured interchangeably to the carriersare not statically balanced about the axes of the respective carrierspindles and turn or vibrate rapidly about said axes due to theircenters of mass being offset from the axes, the degree and rapidity ofvibration varying in accordance with the particular tools secured to thecarriers.

When the machine is running idle (no work at such time being presentedto the machine), and

' also when the machine is operating upon straight runs of sole edges28, it is desirable that the lengthwise elements 52 (Fig. 4) of theworkengaging face 38 of the tool 36 shall lie in planes which areparallel to the plane of oscillation of the axis of the spindle 32 ofthe carrier 34. It will be appreciated that when a tool, or its carrieror both, are unbalanced with reference to the carrier spindle axis 58,as in the case of machines new in use, such tools will constantly turnor vibrate about said axis, both when the machine is running idle andwhen ti is operating upon a shoe. Such a condition, for reasons abovestated, is undesirable and may be remedied to a considerable extent byproviding an excessively stiff torsion-resisting leaf springcorresponding to the leaf spring 54, which, as will appear later, isrelatively weak.

On the other hand, it is highly important that the tool shall turnreadily about the axis 58 of the carrier spindle 32 when slight turningpressure is exerted against the tool by the sole edge 28, it having beenfound that when a heavy turning pressure is exerted by the work againstthe tool the edge of the sole of the shoe sometimes slips off the tool,with the result that the outer ends of the lip and guard faces 48, 46,respectively, of the tool chew a portion of the sole edge. Accordingly,if the leaf spring 54 is too stiff, the portions 48 of the sole edgeswhich are curved sharply heightwise of the shoe have to be fed past thetool extremely carefully and therefore slowly, it having been foundthat, even under such conditions, unless the operator moves the shoe ina curved path approximating the curvature of that portion of the solebeing trimmed, the edge of the sole is likely to have a sufficientcomponent of movement widthwise of the tool to cause the sole edge to bedamaged, as above described. It will be noted that if the edge of thesole is relatively thin, sufficient force cannot always be exertedagainst the tool by the sole edge to turn the same about the carrierspindle axis when the torsion-resisting leaf spring is stiff.

With the foregoing considerations in view, the illustrative machine isprovided with means, which will appear later, for causing the centers ofthe work-engaging faces 38 of the tools 36, regardless of the width ofsaid faces, to be positioned in approximate alinement with the axis 50of the carrier spindle 32, thereby insuring that the frictional drag bythe work against the workengaging face of the too] shall notcontinuously vibrate the tool about the axis of the carrier spindle, asabove described, during the operation of the machine.

In high speed, short stroke edge setting machines it is highly importantthat there shall not be any movement between the carrier 34 and the tool36, it having been found that if there is any play whatsoever betweenthe carrier and the tool, there will be a rapidly increased wear betweenthese parts, with the result that the tool or the carrier or both haveto be discarded.

With the foregoing in view, the carrier 34 is provided with a large,flat face or abutment portion '14 (Fig. 3) disposed at right angles tothe axis 50 of the carrier spindle 32, and an overhanging or undercutshoulder 16 (Figs. 3 and 6) which forms a V-shaped notch 18 with anadjacent portion of the surface 14. Each of the tools 36, irrespectiveof the width of its work-engaging face 38, is provided with a dovetailportion of the same size (approximately one-half inch wide, as indicatedby reference numeral 82, Fig. 5A) having a fiat abutment face 84 andundercut wedge faces 86 which terminate at the ends of said abutmentface. It has been found that if the fiat abutment face 84 of the toolcan be clamped with considerable wedging pressure against the fiatabutment face 74 (Fig. 3) of the carrier 34 and can be effectively heldagainst movement on said face, there will not be any movement betweenthe tool and the carrier during the operation of the machine.Accordingly, there is provided a clamp comprising a plate 88 one end ofwhich fits in an elongated slot 90 of the carrier and the other end ofwhich is constructed and arranged to engage one of the undercut wedgefaces of the dovetail portion of the tool and to force the other wedgeface of said dovetail portion against the undercut shoulder I6 of thecarrier 34. Upon rotation of a screw 92 which is threaded into thecarrier 34 and extends through a recess 94 (Fig. 6) in the plate 88, thehead of the screw causes the plate to swing in a clockwise direction, asviewed in Fig. 1, about its upper end, with the result that the fiatabutment face 84 of the tool is forced by a wedging action against thefiat abutment face I4 of the carrier, the tool being secured againstmovement in the carrier by the shoulder I6 of the carrier and the lowerend of the plate 88. The tool carrier 34 and its associated clamp maythus b described as forming between them a dovetail recess 96 (Fig. 3)having a flat bottom I4 against which the fiat abutment face 84 of thetool 36 is forced, as above described. It will be noted that the wedgefaces 86 of the tool 36 are shaped and arranged to extend out of andbeyond the dovetail recess 96.

In order to eliminate, or at least to reduce to a minimum, theabove-mentioned tendency of the carrier 34 and the tool 36 continuouslyto turn or to vibrate about the axis 50 of the carrier spindle 32, theillustrative machine, in addition to positioning the central part of theworkengaging face 38 of the tool in the axis of the carrier spindle, hasits carrier and tool statically balanced with reference to said axis.

As above stated, the dovetail portions 80 of the various tools are ofthe same size, the width of said portion being approximately one-half aninch and equal to the distance between the front face 98 of the carrier34 and a. stop pin I (Figs. 1, 3 and 6) which is secured to the carrierand projects from the abutment face "I4 thereof. The axis 50, which maybe described as intersecting the carrier 34, is positioned equidistantfrom the front face of the carrier and the stop pin I00. In edge settingtools 36 having workengaging faces 38 which are narrower than onehalf aninch, for example, the front and rear faces I02, I04 (Figs. 4, and 5A)of the tool 36 converge toward the work-engaging face 38 of the same. Intools having work-engaging faces 38 wider than one-half an inch, thetool has a pair of forwardly and rearwardly extending flanges I06, I08,respectively (Figs. 5B and 5C). As above stated, the distribution ofweight of each of the tools 36 is such that when the tool is positionedin the carrier 34 with the rear face H0 (Figs. 5A, 5B and 5C) of itsdovetail portion 80 in engagement with the stop pin I00, the tool isstatically balanced about the carrier spindle axis 50. The carrier 34,which comprises the clamp by which the tool 36 is secured to thecarrier, is also statically balanced about the carrier spindle axis 50.It will therefore be clear that when the machine is running idle, therewill be little, if any, tendency for the tool 36 to turn about thecarrier spindle axis 50. Moreover, since the centers of thework-engaging faces 38 of the various tools are in alinement with thecarrier spindle axis 50, there will be little tendency for the tool tovibrate about said axis during the operation of the machine. With such aconstruction, it is possible to use the torsion-resisting leaf spring54, which is relatively weak and is therefore adapted yieldingly torotate readily under pressure of the work, thereby enabling the operatorquickly and effectively to move portions 48 of the sole edge 20, whichare curved sharply heightwise of the shoe, past the tool without dangerof moving the sole edge across the path of oscillation of the tool andtherefore damaging the sole edge.

The present invention, in its broader aspects, is disclosed and claimedin an application for United States Letters Patent Serial No. 400,179,filed June 28, 1941, in the name of William Hamann.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an edge setting machine, a tool having a dovetail portionterminating in a fiat abutment face of substantial area and havingundercut Wedge faces, a tool carrier having a fiat abutment portion andan undercut shoulder forming a V-shaped notch with an adjacent area ofsaid abutment portion, and a clamp comprising a plate one end of whichis pivoted in a recess of the carrier and the other end of which isshaped and arranged to engage one of the undercut wedge faces of thetool, said clamp also com prising means for causing said other end ofthe plate in co-operation with said shoulder of the carrier to force bya wedging action the fiat abutment face of the tool securely against theflat abutment portion of the carrier.

2. In an edge setting machine, a tool having a dovetail portion providedwith a flat abutment face and undercut wedge faces terminating atopposite ends of said face, a carrier having a rigid fiat; face and anoverhanging shoulder at one end of said face, and clamping meansconstructed and arranged to engage one of the undercut wedge faces ofthe tool and to force the other undercut wedge face against theoverhanging shoulder of the carrier, said clamping means co-operatingwith said shoulder to force by a wedging action the flat abutment faceof the tool against the flat face of the carrier and to retain the flatfaces of the tool and the carrier in secured abutting relation with eachother.

3. In an edge setting machine, a tool carrier and an associated clampforming between them a dovetail recess which has a fiat bottom, a toolhaving a dovetail portion shaped and arranged to enter said recess, andmeans for determining the position of the tool lengthwise of said recessupon the carrier, said dovetail portion having a fiat abutment face andundercut wedge faces which are considerably wider than the undercutsides of the dovetail recess so as at all times to extend out of andbeyond the recess, said clamp comprising a screw for constricting thewidth of the recess to force the dovetail portion by a wedging actioninto the recess and to force the abutment face of said dovetail portionsecurely against the flat bottom of the recess.

4. An edge setting machine comprising a holder mounted for oscillation,a tool carrier mounted on the holder, said carrier having a flatabutment face and an undercut shoulder forming with an adjacent portionof said face a notch which is V-shaped in cross section, a tool having adovetail projection comprising an undercut Wedge face which isconstructed and arranged to be received in the notch and a fiat facewhich is constructed and arranged to engage the flat abutment face ofthe carrier, means for de termining the position of the tool upon thecarrier, a clamping plate one end of which engages the carrier and theother end of which engages the other undercut wedge face of the dovetailprojection, and a screw threaded into the carrier for forcing the plateagainst the carrier and the tool thereby forcing the flat face of thetool securely against the flat abutment face of the carrier.

5. In an edge setting machine, a carrier having a flat abutment face andan undercut face which forms a notch with said abutment face, a toolhaving a flat face and a pair of undercut faces forming with said flatface a dovetail portion of the tool, a stop for determining the positionof the tool upon the carrier, and clamping means supported by thecarrier and constructed and arranged to engage one of said undercutfaces of the tool and to force the other undercut face of the toolagainst the undercut face of the carrier and into the notch therebycausing the flat face of the tool to be forced with considerablepressure against and to be held in secured relation with the flat faceof the carrier.

EUGENE J. RAY.

